2025 BEST PRACTICE AWARDS
Best Warehouse Innovation
VIRGINIA ABC
by KRYSTINA SKIBO
Virginia ABC’ s Team WOW focuses on developing processes, metrics and best practices in every area of the warehouse.
In the ever-changing beverage alcohol space, traditional warehouse models are no longer sufficient. To thrive, companies must embrace warehouse innovation. From optimizing inventory management and enhancing order accuracy to improving efficiency and preparing for future market demands, innovation can greatly improve operations.
Realizing the importance of warehouse innovation, Virginia ABC launched a Warehouse Optimization Workgroup, dubbed Team WOW, in 2022. This specific workgroup was established to drive operational enhancements to ABC’ s 315,000 sq. ft. distribution center.
“ Team WOW has strengthened Authority operations and efficiencies as well as enhanced our relationships across the country,” says Virginia ABC CEO Dale Farino.“ These efforts by the Authority ultimately benefit all Virginians, making the Commonwealth a great place to live, raise a family and conduct business.”
Team WOW focuses on developing processes, metrics and best practices in the areas of safety, people, training and performance. In under four months, the team delivered 54 artifacts and results.
Three years later, the foundation built by Team WOW continues to drive annual success in distribution center operations. The team even set a new all-time safety record, operating 292 days without a recordable incident.
With the help of Team WOW, distribution center employees underwent structured and sustained training that prioritizes safety for the workforce and everyone they serve.
“ Team WOW, at its core, set the culture around continuous improvement in the distribution center,” says Tyler Moore, director of distribution.“ Team WOW emphasized that we should be asking ourselves every day how to make this experience better across the board.”
These impressive results have boosted operational efficiency annually, with fiscal year 2025 closing out 5 % better than fiscal year 2024 and 27 % better than fiscal year 2023— the year of team WOW’ s inception.
The distribution center’ s highest recorded daily volume has increased to 44,456 from 37,346 in two years, according to Virginia ABC.
" The distribution center team has sustained, and typically exceeded, goals set during the initial launch," Moore says. " Improvements include safety – the distribution center has reached new metrics for days without injury – efficiency, training and employee engagement."
While onboarding used to be informal, Moore explains that today there is a“ whole onboarding suite” covering standard operating procedures, safety and check-ins at intervals after hiring.
Moving forward, the distribution center operations team will continue to work with Team WOW partners to drive continuous improvement.
“ We are in a radically different place than we were pre- Team WOW,” says Moore.“ The mindset doesn’ t change regardless of whatever milestones we hit. Our current milestones are to hit a calendar year without a recordable( injury). Our stretch goal is a 5 % improvement in efficiency for fiscal year 2026.”
22 StateWays • Fall 2025 www. stateways. com